New head of HR for LendInvest

LendInvest has appointed Erin Stewart to lead the company’s growing HR department.

Stewart was most recently head of HR for EMEA and APAC at Essence, the global digital agency and the world’s largest independent buyer of digital media. During four years at Essence, Erin oversaw the launch of several of the agency’s Asian offices in cities including Singapore, Tokyo. In each location she established the HR functions to support the business’ fast expansion.

Before joining Essence, Stewart spent 10 years in a variety of HR management roles at media and financial services businesses.

Stewart is responsible for expanding LendInvest’s existing HR framework, ensuring it is agile, thorough and fully supports the company’s growth objectives. Erin’s remit is broad and she will oversee the implementation of programmes and structures across recruitment, culture, training and development, and the HR practice.

Christian Faes, co-founder and CEO of LendInvest, said: “As a fast-growing tech business, we are investing a huge amount in hiring the best people possible, as well as working hard to create a work environment where our team can thrive while we work towards realising our ambitions as a company. People are our most important asset. It’s great timing to bring someone with Erin’s experience on board to manage our team and to continue to make LendInvest a place where professionals aspire to develop their careers.”

Stewart added: “Getting to know LendInvest, I was struck by the can-do attitude that its people share. The ethos is inspiring and the ambition is infectious. I’m excited to get stuck in, making sure we align how the LendInvest team develops with what the business wants to become.”

ErinStewart joins a growing team at LendInvest in the company’s central London headquarters. Since spring 2015, the LendInvest team has increased threefold from 30 employees to 105 full time members of staff. Other senior hires made in the past year have included specialists from OneSavings Bank, RBS, IG Group and CBRE. Today, 40% of the team works on technology and product development, with 30% committed to originating, underwriting and servicing property finance loans.